The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, Mansour Al-Mushaiti, announced a transformative leap for the nation’s coffee sector. His remarks at the International Saudi Coffee Exhibition in Jazan revealed an evolution from a regional specialty to a worldwide phenomenon.
With over 2,000 coffee farms flourishing in Jazan, the region’s output surpasses 1,000 tons annually, a testament to the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture’s strategic initiatives. This growth not only showcases agricultural prowess but also positions Saudi coffee on the global stage.
The International Saudi Coffee Exhibition, spearheaded by the Jazan Development Strategic Office, stands as a beacon for this ambitious agenda. This conclave facilitates the dissemination of advanced farming techniques, cultivates a community dedicated to coffee excellence, and accelerates Jazan’s emergence as a pivotal trade nexus.
Al-Mushaiti highlighted the agricultural sector’s crucial role in national prosperity, focusing on coffee-centric projects. These encompass the inception of new processing plants in Al-Dayer, establishment of benchmark coffee nurseries across Jazan and Asir, and the ambitious blueprint for a coffee city in Al-Baha. These projects mirror the Kingdom’s agricultural diversity and its pursuit of sustainable development.
The Kingdom’s Sustainable Agricultural Rural Development Program has been instrumental, allocating over $41.3 million to support over 7,256 beneficiaries in diverse agricultural domains, coffee farmers included. This financial infusion underscores the state’s commitment to propelling the coffee industry to international acclaim.
Farmers at the exhibition shared their ancestral passion for coffee cultivation, a craft demanding patience, with trees maturing to fruit-bearing in three to four years. The Ministry’s guidance in augmenting production techniques has inspired a new generation of farmers to adopt coffee cultivation, fueling the industry’s robust growth.
Saudi Arabia’s venture into the global coffee market transcends economic implications; it heralds a cultural renaissance, celebrating the region’s deep-rooted coffee traditions while embracing global connectivity and innovation. As Saudi coffee garners international recognition, the Kingdom cements its status as a formidable force in global agricultural trade, combining heritage with forward-thinking strategies and local excellence with global aspirations.
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